Spirit Led at 34 months

We took the kids out for dinner at a restaurant last Saturday evening with my grandfather and two aunts and my sister. Before we went in, we reminded them to stay in their chairs and be quiet. Luke did great. Lydia, not so much. When we returned to the car after dinner, I thanked Luke for his good behavior. He asked what his prize was. I told him that he did not need a prize for obeying, but that his obeying glorified God. Lydia asked Luke if he obeyed God, seeming happy for him that he did. She then solemnly said, "I didn't obey God." I told her I knew. She said it again and said that God was sad. Seeing that she was really concerned, I said, "You can ask God to forgive you." She softly and seriously bowed her head, and prayed, "God, forgive you me. I love you, God. I love you. I will be better next year when we go there." I was deeply moved and thought that I should write this. I believe that the Holy Spirit touched that almost three-year-old heart in a special way. May we also go to the Father for forgiveness and not forget to tell Him how we love Him.

Prayer for Unborn Child

You made this life inside me
To glorify Your name,
To praise You for Your holiness,
To love You for Your grace.

Life is so uncertain,
And I want to pray Your will
So what is my cry for this child,
The longing of my heart?

Oh, sin is here already.
We are a fallen world.
I pray for Your own righteousness
To clothe my precious child.

Oh, may this child be Your child
To glorify Your name,
To praise You for Your holiness,
To love You for Your grace.

~thinking of my pregnant friends and family members and looking back on my prayer for my children during my pregnancies

For Papa

His battle is over.
The victory’s won:
No more suffering now,
Only praise to the King.

He fought a good fight,
A legacy did leave,
Generations he touched
With the lessons he taught.

He worked hard, and he served;
His family, he loved.
His church and his town,
They all knew his name.

So since the battle’s been won,
Now it’s time to praise
The Leader, the King,
Our LORD who does save.

Papa’s praising him now.
Let us join him in song.
Let’s sing, “Holy, Holy”
To the one on the throne.

Let’s wipe our tears
And turn our hearts towards heaven
For the Savior’s due glory.
Let’s bring it to Him.

As we walk on this earth,
Let’s not forget
To walk looking to Him
That truly we’ll live.

~H.T. Cardwell, Jr. (July 15, 1920 - August 31, 2009)

Sing Alleluia

Worship the King.
Bring praise to the LORD.
Sing alleluia.
Love and adore.

Alleluia.
Alleluia.
Alleluia.
Alleluia.

He's Savior, Redeemer,
Creator of All,
Counselor, Great One.
Sing alleluia.

Alleluia.
Alleluia.
Alleluia.
Alleluia.

Jesus was pierced,
Hung on a cross,
Suffered and died
For His sheep who were lost.

Alleluia.
Alleluia.
Alleluia.
Alleluia.

Now He's alive.
Bring praise to His name.
Sing alleluia.
Christ Jesus does reign.

Alleluia.
Alleluia.
Alleluia.
Alleluia.

Rest in the Mess

Life can get messy.
So much can go wrong,
But God is still God.
He remains strong.
He calls to the weary.
He calls the burdened to Him.
In God we find rest.
In Him a new load,
One that’s much lighter
For He carries it with us,
One that brings rest,
Sweet rest for our souls.
He offers us His yoke.
Learn with Him in control.
He’ll teach us to be humble
And gentle like Him.
If we'll serve Him each day,
Get off our own thrones,
Then this life, through messy
Can bring glory to Him.
And if we look through the mess,
We’ll find He is right there,
Holding on to us daily.
Let us find Him in prayer.
Hold nothing back,
Bring it all to His feet,
But don’t stop at that,
Praise His name for His greatness.
Read His word each day
And walk His walk with our lives,
And praise Him, O praise Him
As we walk through the mess.

~reflection on Matt. 11:28-30 and life right now

Take It To The Lord

Our minds keep on racing.
Can’t seem to slow down.
We all have our troubles,
The cares of this world.
So what’s one to do?
We can’t take any more.
What’s one to do
With all the stuff we bear?

Take it to the Lord.
Take it to the Lord.
Give it to Him.
Give it to Him.
Take it to the Lord.
Take it to the Lord.
He can handle it.
He can handle it.
Why do we try
To do it on our own
When we know
That he’s near?
Take it to the Lord.
Take it to the Lord.
The one who cares
He’ll carry your cares.

We feel weighed down
With all our worries,
But He can bring peace.
Just give it to Him.
One day at a time,
Let’s live for His glory.
It’s all in His hands.
Let’s trust and obey.

Take it to the Lord.
Take it to the Lord.
Give it to Him.
Give it to Him.
Take it to the Lord.
Take it to the Lord.
He can handle it.
He can handle it.
Why do we try
To do it on our own
When we know
That he’s near?
Take it to the Lord.
Take it to the Lord.
The one who cares
He’ll carry your cares.

Hope would turn three now

Hope would turn three now if still here on earth,
But where Hope is now, the days are not numbered.
With each day that passes, there’s still infinitely more,
Eternity left to spend praising the Lord.
I love life on earth; don’t get me wrong,
But part of me longs to find what Hope’s found.
There’s no suffering, no pain, no sin, and no shame,
Just glory to God, true love all around.
The Lord gives and He takes;
It’s all His after all.
We’re blessed with four children; three here with us.
Blessed be the day we all praise God together.
Today as I think of a birthday that never came,
I thank God for a life, that I’ll never be the same.
He used Hope to teach me about love, life, and loss,
About His perfect timing, about healing and hope.
But Hope’s still a person, one with a soul,
Who now praises God, from the lips of my child.
Thank you , Father, for my Baby Hope,
No longer a baby, but a child of the King.

~My Baby Hope was due to be born on earth July 27, 2006. Hope was born into heaven December 2005.